Wallace Dew has been playing with the Atlanta Poker Club since the middle of Season 23 Summer 2011. Wallace is originally from Florida and has lived in Georgia for most of his life. He has a ten year old daughter.

How long have you played Texas Hold’em?
Four years – just played online and came to table games because online poker died.

What is your secret to winning the most games in a season?
Knowing your opponents is the secret to winning. Watch for patterns. Know the card statistics, the math. I have to say that probably the one thing that improved me the most was sitting in the dealer seat because I had to read every hand.

How have you changed your game since you started playing?
I defined my range of hands. There are certain hands that I will play in certain positions against certain players but not against other players in the same position. Ties back to knowing your opponents. It helps to know what other players’ favorite hands are.

When you ended the Winter 2012 with the most wins, did you start the season having most wins as your goal?
No. But I won six tournaments in the first two weeks. It all started when I went out early at the Fall 2011 AllStars Tournament and won two tournaments that day…one at Atmosphere and one at AllStar Billiards. Felt so good to win and other players started to notice my winning. And it gave me such a good feeling…guess you could say self-esteem feelings. Remember the TV show “Cheers”? In the bar when Norm walked in everyone said hi, and I wanted to be Norm. Now I feel like I am in my own way.

As you accumulated more wins, was it easier or harder to win?
Easier to win as time went on because I wasn’t afraid. The fear of losing went away, and it took a lot of loses to get there. I played every day…twice on Saturdays and twice on Sundays and it cost me $0.26 per points…winning at free poker is not free. I couldn’t stop…with each win it was like chasing the dragon. As much as winning it, it is also a social event and I have made some fast friends in this club, and now I stick around and watch the play even after I go out.

Compared to winning the Southeastern Division of the North Atlantic Road Racing Championship of the Sports Car Club of America, how did it feel to win the AllStars Tournament?
Almost as good, but I wasn’t quite as sweaty. When the AllStars Tournament was all over I felt like I had been beaten by a rubber hose because of the mental concentration it took to get there and to get past Steve Quach and Steve Pavlichek. Two great competitors.

Who is your favorite pro?
Barry Greenstein. He never shows emotion and he’s a flat out good card player. There are probably more poker personalities that I dislike…like the loud, voracious poker player. I prefer the smooth, quiet ambassadors like Doyle Brunson. We need to attract more poker players to the game instead of pushing them away.

Have you ever lost your temper at the table?
Once….a donkey kicked me in the nuts and then brayed at me.

Any advice for new players?
Don’t overplay your hand and learn what quality cards are. Remember that position and stack management are as important as the cards in your hand. Have fun…it’s a game! Don’t get mad at other players’ stupidity…just file it away for future reference. Play lots of different venues against all range of players. A good poker player has to be able to play against the donkeys and the sharks. Always sit down with the maximum chip up and most importantly always tip the wait staff because they remember.

What are the most important elements of playing at the APC for you?
It is an equal, level playing field and I don’t have to compete with players who are drinking their way to the final table. The Tournament Directors are consistent and the rules are applied evenly and fairly and the dealers are good. The APC is the best poker club I’ve played with. By the way, we should always bring family to play because it makes it more fun.

Wallace Dew does bring his family to play, his Mom, Janice Reed, and both are a welcome addition to the APC roster of players.

Wallace accumulated 12461.73 points along with 23 wins in Winter 2012, and beat out 48 players for the title of AllStars Champion and a place in the Atlanta Poker Club Hall of Fame. Next time you see Wallace, don’t forget to say hi.

Share and Enjoy

Qualifying Dates were: 4/1/2011 through 3/31/2012

To qualify you needed to:

• Finish in the top 100 in total points combined through Summer ’11, Fall ’11 and Winter Season ’12
• Win any Monthly Points Tournament
• Win any Season Points Race
• Win any Season Championship Tournament
• Win any qualified Venue Season Points Race
• Win any Venue Season Championship Tournament
• Win any AllStars Tournament
• Qualify for AllStars all three seasons
• Win the Tournament of Champions

PRIZES:

• First Place won $2250 WSOP Package + APC Silver Coin + Gear
• Second Place won $300 + APC Gear
• Third Place won $200 + APC Gear
• 4th – 10th won APC Gear

Tournament Event was 1:00 p.m. Sunday, April 29th, at Sinbad’s Feast in Johns Creek.

98 players came out to compete and it made for a fun day! Steaks, buffet, cold beer, and good wine added to the Yearly experience. Hugs and good luck added to the comraderie among players.

MIKE GREEN, always a gentleman at the poker table, took it down! CONGRATULATIONS! MIKE earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame.

A very good final table with RACHEL NOWELL taking second place!

‎3. Doobey D.
4. Beverly Wolf
‎5. Kee Hulsey
6. Will Beam
7. Brian Gay
8. Wendy Davidson
9. Mr. Lee
10. Randy Money

Congratulations again MIKE GREEN, and well played!

Also, congratulations to all the qualifiers who played well for three full seasons and good luck for the next three seasons!

Share and Enjoy

John Soper
Grand Champion
Winter Season ’11

The Winter Season ’11 Grand Championship Tournament was held on Saturday, April 16th, at Famous Pub. There were 289 players qualified for the tournament that is the highlight of an entire APC season. Players competed for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi. John Soper emerged victorious and beat a field of 140 total players!

John Soper was born in El Paso, Texas and moved to Atlanta about 15 years ago. John has lived in many different areas of the U.S., but feels that being from Texas gives him an affinity for playing Texas Hold’em.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
I don’t have a clear favorite among the professional players. I like to watch them all and they all have something to bring to the game. However, if you base it on looks, then I’d have to say Jennifer Tilly.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Kerm King has influenced my play the most as he has a “no fear” factor that I wish I could adopt.

What is your advice for new players?
Learn from everyone at the table and don’t be afraid. If you’ve never played a live event before then sit and watch. If you’ve played online before, then play the same way, at least initially…then learn that live play is different.

What are your goals in the APC?
I feel that the APC is a training camp. Especially after playing at the Wooden Nickel. At the Nickel you are inundated with good and not so good players and it is a challenge. Like a poker boot camp. My goals are to take this hobby and actually go to casinos and play for real money, and I would love to represent the APC in the World Series of Poker. With the new membership opportunities coming up it looks like the APC is now promoting and recognizing that they have some really good poker players and with the membership we can take this to the top!

How did it feel to win the Grand Championship?
Numb. Numb. I knew that when I would go back to the Wooden Nickel that players would look at me differently. Many players congratulated me but I feel the need to win another one or be more consistent in my play to be acknowledged by everyone. I just started playing Texas Hold’em in February, 2010. I feel that so many people that I play against are so much better than me. I try to learn from everyone.

I would like to put this challenge out. I think that you need to play the Nickel because it is so challenging and any APC player needs to go to the Nickel and if you think you are good play there. If you can win at the Nickel you will recognize that you are good.

I walked into the Nickel on February 9, 2010 to watch the Super Bowl and all these tables were set up. I approached Maci, and she said, “It is free poker and Texas Hold’em and why don’t you play?” I played and didn’t see one minute of the Super Bowl. I think I came in 18th my first night. I want to thank all the ambassadors for the APC including the Tournament Directors and the dealers, I like the new APC approach, and the fact the APC is not sitting around thinking they have something but keep trying to improve their product and I really appreciates that.

John Soper continues to work at improving his game. John looks forward to putting his poker skills to work when he does play in a casino. John has definitely earned his place in the APC Hall of Fame!

Photos of the Grand Championship

Share and Enjoy

To qualify for this tournament you need to be:

• Top 50 in Overall Points for Summer Season ’11 (April 1st – July 31st)
• Top 10 in Any Individual Venue Points Race For The Season
• Win a Season Venue Championship Tournament
• Win a Monthly Points Tournament

The projected date for the tournament is Saturday, August 13th.

The venues listed below will qualify for the Grand Championship provided they play 8 times:

Allstar Billiards/Monday –
Allstar Billiards/Thursday –
Allstar Billiards/Saturday –
American Ale House/Tuesday –
American Ale House/Friday –
American Ale House/Saturday –
American Ale House/Sunday –
Arizona Pub –
Atmosphere Monday –
Atmosphere Wednesday –
Atmosphere Saturday –
Beef ‘O’ Bradys/Monday –
Bench Warmers –
Eastside Station/Tuesday –
Eastside Station/Thursday –
Eastside Station/Sunday –
Famous Pub –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday –
Jeffreys Braselton –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday –
McCray’s Tavern –
Rock House –
SoCo/Monday –
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game –
SoCo/Wednesday –
SoCo/Friday –
SoCo/Saturday –
Sportsline –
Sportsline/Marietta –
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday –
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday –
The Point Bar & Grill –
Tilted Kilt –
Tin Roof Cantina –
Wooden Nickel/Thursday –
Wooden Nickel –
Zuffy’s Place –

Check the forum for complete LIST OF QUALIFYING!

CURRENT LIST OF QUALIFYING includes the Top 50 in Points for the Season, and the Top 10 at all venues that played, but only the above listed venues are eligible.

Monthly Points Tournament Winners:
April ’11 – Rachel Nowell
May ’11 – Train
June ’11 – Louis Melnick
July ’11 – TBD

PRIZES:

• The Grand Champion winner will receive a $550 WSOP or WPT Seat in Tunica plus $150 for travel. In addition to this they will receive the coveted custom rectangular Atlanta Poker Club engraved card guard, APC gear, entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament, as well as a listing in the APC Hall of Fame.
• The runner up or 2^nd place player will receive $150 in Gift Cards plus choice of APC Gear.
• 3rd place will receive $50 in Gift Cards plus choice of APC Gear.
• 4^th through 10^th place finishers will receive choice of APC Gear.

You may earn BONUS CHIPS in the Season Grand Championship on the following scale:

• 1^st in overall points will receive 1500 Bonus Chips.
• 2^nd will receive 1000 Bonus Chips.
• 3^rd through 10^th will receive 500 Bonus Chips.
• Tournament Structure: This will be an antes style tournament using the following blinds structure.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Share and Enjoy

Friends Sports Bar Information
Directions to Friends in Dacula

The qualifications for the prestigious AllStars Tournament are:

• 1st or 2nd in points at any venue at the end of the season, Sunday, July 31st.
• The venue must play a minimum of 8 events to qualify. *effective April 1st 2011

The venues listed below will qualify for AllStars provided they play 8 times:

Allstar Billiards/Monday –
Allstar Billiards/Thursday –
Allstar Billiards/Saturday –
American Ale House/Tuesday –
American Ale House/Friday –
American Ale House/Saturday –
American Ale House/Sunday –
Arizona Pub –
Atmosphere Monday –
Atmosphere Wednesday –
Atmosphere Saturday –
Beef ‘O’ Bradys/Monday –
Bench Warmers –
Eastside Station/Tuesday –
Eastside Station/Thursday –
Eastside Station/Sunday –
Famous Pub –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday –
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday –
Jeffreys Braselton –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday –
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday –
McCray’s Tavern –
Rock House –
SoCo/Monday –
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game –
SoCo/Wednesday –
SoCo/Friday –
SoCo/Saturday –
Sportsline –
Sportsline/Marietta –
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday –
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday –
The Point Bar & Grill –
Tilted Kilt –
Tin Roof Cantina –
Wooden Nickel/Thursday –
Wooden Nickel –
Zuffy’s Place –

Prizes to be won:

• 1st Place wins $250 + Custom Silver Card Guard + AllStars Trophy + Seat in Yearly
  and entry into the APC Hall of Fame
• 2nd Place wins $150
• 3rd Place wins $100
• The Final Table wins APC Gear
• All qualifiers win a custom APC AllStars Chip

Here is the current list of qualifiers, but only the above venues are eligible to play in the AllStar Tournament!

Share and Enjoy

Tommy Tran
Points Leader
Most Wins In One Season
Winter Season ’11

Tommy Tran has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since Red Carpet Lanes in Fall Season ’08. In Winter Season ’11, Tommy surpassed the previous record held by Daniel Petty of 17 wins in one season by getting a total of 20 wins! That gave him the largest number of wins by any player in any season of the APC. Tommy has won a total of 39 tournaments. He was Points Leader in Winter Season ’11 with an amazing 13622.38 in points!

From Santa Jose, CA, Tommy moved to Atlanta in 1997. He wanted to learn hold’em so he played with his cousins and then online. Tommy played occasionally with the APC, and his first full season to play was Winter Season ’11.

How many times a week did you play in Winter Season ’11?
The very first month of the season I was running good, and then I set the goal to make 10,000 points, and get 20 wins, and beat the current record, and I didn’t want to stop until I achieved it. So I played 10 to 12 tournaments a week. At least one a day and two to three times on Saturday and Sunday.

Players want to know what is your winning strategy?
The most important thing is your attitude. Attitude is everything! If you don’t go in expecting to win you will not win. Set a goal and expect to achieve it. If I place 7th in a game, I will take apart the game I played and what I did wrong and how to improve it to be better and learn from my mistakes, and next time finish higher. I pay close attention to detail and make mental notes about the players on how they play, and what hands they will play, and how they react…and how to win the next time against them.

How has your play changed when you started playing seriously?
It changed dramatically. I play a wider range of hands. My playing style is different. I play in a lot of hands. Some times I’m in a hand just to play the player. I had to learn the dynamic to tournament poker and to build chip stack and chip stack management, and to control tilt and maintain a good attitude at the table.

Also, I learned there is a final table dynamic. In Winter Season ’11, I played a total of 113 tournaments. Out of those tournaments, I made the final table 94 times. Playing in so many final tables is when I learned the dynamics and how the play is totally different and you have to switch gears. The playing style is different and is very crucial for you as each position eliminated you then climb higher, which is of course the goal. I changed my betting style in a number of ways including leading out when I have the nuts. I was involved in so many hands I ended up getting paid off.

Any advice to new players?
Be open and willing to learn and to improve your game. You can play five or six years and not learn or improve, so you need to learn and take criticism constructively. Be open and be willing to learn and talk to players and see where there is room for improvement and what works and what doesn’t work.

Has any major player influenced your play?
I don’t really watch professional poker. I have seen Daniel Negreanu and Tony G, so
Daniel Negreanu because of his wide range of hands and ability to put players on a hand, and he plays the player and he does not necessarily have the best hand all the time. Tony G, because he puts a lots of pressure on players and tests their abilities to play hands and he puts other players to the test and is agressive. I’ve asked Tournament Director Travis Hart how he might have played my hand differently, and being willing to learn is how to win the games. Travis taught me to play to win.

Do you have a favorite hand?
My all time favorite hand is 9, 10 suited. I love pocket pairs and any pocket pair is fun to play. Low suited connectors can really pay off if they hit.

How did it feel to have the most wins of any player in any season?
Very accomplished. Very, very excited and relieved that I accomplished the goal I set in the beginning of the season. I learned from my mistakes and improved my game which enabled me to win tournaments.

What do you think when players say it is just free poker and doesn’t matter?
Attitude thing…I personally think it is an excuse for bad play. It does matter and just because it is free you are learning from it to take to a money game. How are you going to go to a real casino and play well unless you have learned by trying to play good poker? You can apply what you have learned, whether free or not, and apply it to the WSOP or other cash games.

Anything else you want to share?
I’ve played with several different clubs in Atlanta, but the APC is the best club to play with as it has a better poker game. It is more structured. There are players that will help you learn if you just ask. Go with a positive attitude and maintain that good attitude. A bad beat from a bad player doesn’t mean that later on you won’t be able to win and get your chips back from that player.

What goals have you set for yourself this season?
No particular goals but mainly want to go out and put everything learned to the test and see if I can continue to do well. I want to be a strong and solid player.

Winter Season ’11 taught me a life lesson that I can set a goal and achieve my goal if I put my heart out to do it. I always hold my head up whether a good night or a bad night…good game or bad game and not give up.

Tommy Tran is in the Atlanta Poker Club Hall of Fame for the most wins in any season and also for leading in points. Congratulations, Tommy!

Tommy took the knowledge he learned playing free poker to the best of his ability with the Atlanta Poker Club, and went to his first casino in Florida to play in a tournament. He won!

Share and Enjoy

YEARLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Three Seasons of Winners

Arnie Ritchie
Yearly Champion
2010 – 2011

Arnie Ritchie has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since Summer Season ’08. He currently lives in Raleigh, NC, and the commute is now too long for him to play often with the APC. Arnie calls the Yearly Championship his “last hurrah!” He wanted to see the players and he wanted to win. As Arnie says, “winning any tournament is an incredible combination of luck and skill. You have to tap dance through so many mine fields just to get to the final table.”

We interviewed Arnie to get his perspectives and to learn more about the man who is always a gentleman at the table.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Gordon…because of his philosophical approach to the game. To me, Phil Gordon looks at poker as if it was a Zen Cohen and then tries to analyze the meaning behind what someone does. Looking at poker that way allows the potential to try and understand what someone else is actually thinking.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Dan Herrington…because of his practical mathematical method of evaluating hand odds and pot odds.

How does APC tournament play differ from tournament play in a casino?
There is always a number of players at an APC game who look at this as simply ‘free poker’ and don’t really care whether they shove all their chips into the middle of the table or not, and that rarely happens in a casino tournament. But in the APC when I play against the serious players, there is very little difference in playing against them and playing a casino tournament.

What is your advice for new players?
Read a lot…Phil Gordon and Dan Harrington.

What have been your goals in the APC?
My goals have been to have a lot of fun, to make new and wonderful friends, and to improve my poker game.

How did it feel to win the Yearly?
A really emotional win for me. Because I’ve moved out of state it is now almost impossible for me to play with the APC on a regular basis, so I knew this was going to be my last opportunity to qualify for the Yearly. To try and do well and try to go deep was really important to me. I was almost out of the tournament in the fifth hand. Greg Ward had pocket Aces and raised in early position with about five callers. That meant that I had to call with my fantastic 3, 5 off suit. The flop came A, K, 5…Greg raised and was called, which meant I had to fold. The turn was a 5, and the river was a 3. Had I been in the hand I would have been gone because Greg’s full house would have beat mine. I don’t care how good or bad a player you think you are, the hand of fate rules.

Arnie says, “I have met more wonderful people, made more friends, and had more good times with the APC in the last two years than in any two year period in my life. I am truly grateful to have had the honor and pleasure of meeting and playing poker with so many wonderful people!”

Arnie Ritchie definitely earned the title of Champion! Arnie has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and in the hearts of the players who know him!

Photos of the Yearly Championship

Share and Enjoy

Steve Grier
All Star Champion
Winter Season ’11

The Winter Season ’11 All Star Tournament was held on Saturday, March 19th, at EastSide Station in Snellville. There were 73 players qualified to play and this is considered the most prestigious of the Atlanta Poker Club tournaments. Players competed for prizes including $250, Custom Silver Card Guard, All Star Trophy, and entry into the Yearly Championship and the Grand Championship, and 43 players competed.

Steve Grier is an Atlanta native. He has played with the Atlanta Poker Club since March, 2010. Steve hadn’t played Texas Hold’em before he joined us. Steve said he started taking his game seriously in this Winter Season ’11.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Ivey. I like the way he conducts himself at the poker table. He rarely shows emotion. He’s always cool. Just can’t put him on a hand. I admire his game.

Who has influenced your play the most?
A lot of people, and most everybody in the APC. Andrew Moore taught me the game.

What is your advice for new players?
A beginner should listen to the more experienced players. The more experienced players bring you along. You learn a lot by watching their play. We can’t all be super agressive. We can’t all be a tight player. Most importantly, stay true to yourself and what kind of poker player you really are.

What are your goals in the APC?
It would be great to win the Grand Championship or the Yearly. I want to at least make the final table in the Grand Championship this year as I made it to the last three tables last year.

How did it feel to win the All Star Tournament?
It didn’t really sink in until I got home and then I felt great. Realized what an accomplishment it was. My hope is to repeat it one day.

Steve has great focus at the table and experiments every time he plays to try and take his game to the next level. He tries to play the top ten hands and to have patience. He only wants to play hands that he can invest in. Steve tries to avoid getting caught up in hands that get him into trouble and he likes to avoid Ace rag. Steve says his natural game is a little more tight.

With his determination, his focus, his ability to adjust his game, that’s what made Steve Grier the All Star Champion!

Share and Enjoy

• Accumulate 2000 points on the Overall Leaderboard by Monday, February 28th.
• Be the Points Leader at any one qualified venue by Monday, February 28th.
  (A venue qualifies for All Stars if it plays 6 times)
• Be the Winner of the December, January or February $500 Monthly Tournament.

There are a total of

                                73                                                         PLAYERS!                                                                                                                                  

1. Abhay Chakole
2. Adam Cira
3. Aimee Kargen
4. Albert Putureanu
5. Alex Britman
6. Andrew Nguyen
7. Anthony Andrews
8. Ashley Alford
9. Ben Taylor
10. Bill Sirinek
11. Bill Stanley
12. Black Pettway
13. Blake Patterson
14. Brian Gaul
15. Bruce Yates
16. Chris Byers
17. Chris Lozynsky
18. Christopher Pearson
19. Chuck Sheran
20. CT Carroll
21. Curtis Fay
22. Danny Pelegrin
23. David Tompkins
24. David Vining
25. Debo
26. Derrick Bozeman
27. Devin Lawson
28. Drew Prichard
29. Eugene Peabody
30. Gary Griffin, Jr.
31. Greg Mackey
32. Holly Stewart
33. Jane Grider
34. Janet Mizoguchi
35. Jason Spry
36. Jeanetta Wells
37. Jeff Miller
38. Jennifer Wilhite
39. Jeremy Sanders
40. Jim Johnson
41. Jim Riles
42. Joe Avino
43. Johnie Teague
44. JR Mayhew
45. Karen Brooks
46. Karen Buerki
47. Kendall Dean
48. Kevin Ilias
49. Kevin Zook
50. Keyonna Burks
51. Khaleel Cannon
52. Kim Smith
53. Laura Davidson
54. Marcos Rodriguez, Jr.
55. Michael Van Coney
56. Mike Green
57. Mike Grove
58. Oska Dixon
59. Rachel Nowell
60. Randy Money
61. Randy Orr
62. Russell Ramuten
63. Ryan Dancey
64. Sallie Avino
65. Scott Bell
66. Sonya Miller
67. Sorin Mohorea
68. Stephen Grier
69. Todd Powers
70. Tommy Tran
71. Train
72. Vikki Hart
73. Wendy Davidson

The venues listed below qualified for All Stars as they played 6 times, and listed below is the Points Leader at each venue on February 28th:

Allstar Billiards/Monday – Tommy Tran
Allstar Billiards/Thursday – Jane Grider
Allstar Billiards/Saturday – Janet Mizoguchi
American Ale House/Tuesday – Eugene Peabody
American Ale House/Friday – Blake Patterson
American Ale House/Saturday – Rachel Nowell
American Ale House/Sunday – Mike Grove
APC Online HU – Jason Spry
APC Online – Eugene Peabody
Arizona Pub – Christopher Pearson
Atmosphere Monday – Michael Van Coney
Atmosphere Wednesday – Chuck Sheran
Barlow’s Bar & Grill – Abhay Chakole
Barlow’s Bar & Grill/Sunday – Devin Lawson
Bench Warmers – Bill Stanley
Cheyenne Grille/Friday – Andrew Nguyen
Eastside Station/Tuesday – Greg Mackey
Eastside Station/Thursday – Greg Mackey
Eastside Station/Sunday – Chris Lozynsky
Famous Pub – Holly Stewart
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Tuesday – Mike Grove
Friends Sports Bar & Grill/Thursday – Danny Pelegrin
Jeffreys Braselton – Brian Gaul
Johnnys Hideaway – Holly Stewart
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Tuesday – Johnie Teague
Loco’s Grill & Pub/Thursday – CT Carroll
McCray’s Tavern – Kevin Ilias
Mikes Down Under – Kendall Dean
SoCo/Monday – Jim Riles
SoCo/Tuesday Ring Game – David Vining
SoCo/Wednesday – Ryan Dancey
SoCo/Friday – Sallie Avino
SoCo/Saturday – Tommy Tran
Sportsline – Kevin Ilias
Sportsline/Marietta – Khaleel Cannon
Square Pub – Black Pettway
Stone Creek Tavern/Wednesday – Tommy Tran
Stone Creek Tavern/Friday– Randy Money
The Point Bar & Grill – Debo
Tilted Kilt – Jeremy Sanders
Tin Roof Cantina – Sonya Miller
Wooden Nickel/Thursday – Joe Avino
Wooden Nickel – Abhay Chakole
Zuffy’s Place – Laura Davidson

Qualifiers from the August, September and October Points Tournaments:
December Tournament Winner: JR Mayhew
January Tournament Winner: Stephen Grier
February Tournament Winner: Karen Brooks

PRIZES TO BE WON!

Share and Enjoy

David Herbert
Grand Champion
Fall Season ’10

The Fall Season ’10 Grand Championship Tournament was held on Saturday, December 18th, at AllStar Billiards. There were 302 players qualified for the tournament that is the highlight of an entire APC season. Players competed for prizes including a $550 entry into a World Series of Poker or World Poker Tour Tournament in Tunica or Biloxi. David Herbert emerged victorious and beat a field of 157 total players!

David Herbert lives in Atlanta with his wife Jessica. He is originally from Georgia. David started playing Texas Hold’em when he needed something to pass the time while he was drinking. David started playing seriously a year ago. Even though he loves to play Texas Hold’em and enjoys playing HORSE, his favorite game is Pot Limit Omaha.

Who is your favorite poker player, and why?
Phil Ivey because of his table image and Daniel Negreanu because of his reads and wide range of hands.

Who has influenced your play the most?
Since August, my game has been progressing. I realized if you want to get better you need to discuss poker in general and in particular strategies. Started talking to Dusin Sherer, Bill Murphy and Patrick Beasley.

How does APC tournament play differ from tournament play in a casino?
I’ve just played Sit and Goes in a casino. I noticed at the GC when antes came into play the players didn’t understand how much money was in the pot because they weren’t used to taking the antes into consideration. At casinos, players are aware and it is not as easy to steal pots. I think the APC should have more games with antes so players can get familiar with the structure.

What is your advice for new players?
Learn position. I think it is the most important thing. Don’t fall in love with your hand, and don’t fall in love with Ace rag. Most players at the APC are nice and open to talk about poker, and that helps out your game a lot.

What are your goals in the APC?
Just accomplished one of them. I would like to make the final table of the yearly. In tournaments you can play your best and still not win so making the final table to me would be an accomplishment

How did it feel to win the Grand Championship?
It felt good. It really didn’t hit me until I got home. Made me want to celebrate and drink beer. It felt like a good accomplishment to win against the good players at the APC. However, it is a grind!

David Herbert definitely earned the title of Grand Champion! David has earned a place in the APC Hall of Fame, and entry into the Yearly Championship Tournament!

Photos of the Grand Championship

Share and Enjoy